CJ McCollum makes TV acting debut on offbeat Fred Armisen comedy

It wasn't exactly an Emmy award-winning scene by any stretch, but Lehigh product CJ McCollum and several Portland Trail Blazers participated in a locker room scene at the end of Thursday night's episode of "Portlandia" on the IFC channel.

"Portlandia" is a very different sketch comedy featuring SNL alum Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein.

It is not your typical half-hour comedy and the humor is definitely not for all. Some would question if there's any humor at all, and yet the show has picked up a big following boosted by the fact that Armisen is now the bandleader on "Late Night With Seth Meyers" on NBC.

"Portlandia" is based in Portland, hence the name.

In this episode, one of the plot lines features Armisen and Brownstein as feminist bookstore owners Toni and Candace, who really don't like what they see from the Trail Blazers Dancers at a game.

They somehow get to instruct the dance team and try to get the scantilly-clad ladies to reveal more of their personalities than their bodies during their halftime routines.

Done with the dancers and feeling victorious, Toni and Candace eventually get a locker room scene with the basketball team, trying to pick up their spirits after a loss.

McCollum is in the scene, but not in uniform. The scene was filmed at the Blazers' training facility in October when McCollum was still injured.

He gets in a couple of lines along with Portland stars such as Lamarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard and Robin Lopez.

Actually, McCollum got additional air time on this "Portlandia" episode because he appeared -- briefly -- in another sketch that featured Portland owner Paul Allen. McCollum didn't speak, but got to smile as he held up a piece of paper with a child-like sketch of what the new Trail Blazers uniforms should look like.

It's all too hard to explain. which is the way "Portlandia" wants it. Armisen wants this show to be very different, and it definitely is.

Here are a few links to more information and pictures and videos from the basketball-oriented "Portlandia" episode which debuted on Thursday night: